In the United States, approximately 2 million patients present annually to the emergency department for facial lacerations. Given the prevalence of facial lacerations, understanding laceration management is crucial for primary and emergency care providers; poor wound care can lead to functional and aesthetic impairment, significantly reducing the patient's quality of life.
Facial scarring can lead to negative social and functional impacts; timely facial soft tissue trauma management is crucial for maximizing aesthetic outcomes and overall patient satisfaction. Not only does reconstruction of complex facial anatomy require careful attention to technical details, but the other aspects of wound care, such as thorough cleansing, tetanus prophylaxis, infection management, and scar prevention, are critical to optimizing outcomes after these injuries.
To provide optimal care for patients with facial lacerations, clinicians need to understand the relative anatomy of facial subunits and demonstrate competency in employing appropriate closure techniques and managing common complications associated with facial laceration repair.
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